All posts by Shonette

Bristol-based Shonette Laffy is a regular blogger on lifestyle and the food scene in the region
Bristol, Monthly Food Listings

Bristol Food & Drink: September 2024

1 Comment

That cold twang is in the air, we’re on the way out of summer already. Although I’m happy with slightly chillier evenings as long as the rain stays away – I’m more of a cosy corner person than a sunseeker anyway. Roll on the red wine and comfort stodge!

This month sees a bunch of Oktoberfest events, foodie festivals and a hoard of new openings, so get your stretchy trousers on, and let me know what you get up to over on the Threads or Instagram!

Continue reading Bristol Food & Drink: September 2024 →
Travel Guides

A short break in: Nice

Leave a comment

The French Riviera, it conjurs up quite a lot of images: turquoise seas, glamorous (rich) people, art nouveau, casinos, white linen trousers, and stripy beach umbrellas. I don’t count myself as rich or glamourous, so I was curious to see how much I’d enjoy a break on the Cote d’Azur.

Continue reading A short break in: Nice →
Travel Guides

A short break in: Brixham

2 Comments

A few quick facts about Brixham to kick us off: it’s the fishing port with the largest haul in England (and 2nd largest in the UK after Peterhead in Scotland), it’s part of Torbay which is a UNESCO Global Geopark, it has its own pirate festival every May, and it was also the landing point for William of Orange in the 17th century before he went on to be crowned King William III.

Continue reading A short break in: Brixham →
Bristol, Monthly Food Listings

Bristol Food & Drink: August 2024

Leave a comment

What a sweltering start to August! All I seem to be craving at the moment is seafood and Margaritas, which sounds fine and dandy until I remember what an expensive habit that would be. If anyone would like to do a prawns & margs deal for summer, I’ll be at the front of the queue.

As you’d expect for a month with (hopefully) good weather and a bank holiday, there are plenty of festivals, snazzy dinners and other fun events to keep yourself busy. Let me know what you end up going to over on Instagram or whatnot, I love being nosey!

Oh and if you find this roundup handy, you can choose to buy me a cuppa to show your appreciation if you like – I’m always chuffed when anyone does!

Continue reading Bristol Food & Drink: August 2024 →
Travel Guides

A short break in: York

Leave a comment

One of the UK’s most historic and best preserved cities, York is absolutely packed with things to do, whether you want to visit museums and medieval buildings, go on some ghost walks or just chill in some characterful pubs.

Continue reading A short break in: York →
Bristol, Monthly Food Listings

Bristol Food & Drink: July 2024

Leave a comment

There’s a lot to pack into this month, summer really is in full swing! Bristol’s flagship festivals are coming up, plus a couple of new ones, and there’s a bunch of new places for you to visit too. Read on and see what you fancy eating and drinking this month…

Continue reading Bristol Food & Drink: July 2024 →
Bristol, Food Guides, Pub Crawls

Bristol’s Best Pub Gardens

50 Comments

We all know that any meal or drinks can be enhanced by a fantastic view. Luckily, with most of Bristol resting on a ridiculous gradient, impressive views over the city and beyond are not hard to come by. Sometimes though, it’s just nice to sit in a good pub garden and take in your surroundings, whether it be on a river bank, on a busy high street or up a behemoth hill. Continue reading Bristol’s Best Pub Gardens →

Bristol, Monthly Food Listings

Bristol Food & Drink: June 2024

Leave a comment

Welcome to my favourite month, and not just because it’s my birthday month (cheap plug) but also because it’s usually the best for reliable beer garden days and barbecues.

There’s plenty to get your teeth into this month, from big beer festivals to a bunch of new restaurant and bar openings. Scroll on down to find out more…

Continue reading Bristol Food & Drink: June 2024 →
Bristol, Monthly Food Listings

Bristol Food & Drink: May 2024

Leave a comment

May has to be one of the best months – not only are there two bank holidays, but festival season is getting in full swing, alfresco spots are opening up and there’s a proper buzz in the air.

As you can tell from the mega guide below (honestly, I’d get a cuppa before you start reading), Bristol is ready to party this month!

Continue reading Bristol Food & Drink: May 2024 →
Bristol, Food Guides

Bristol Food & Drink: March 2024

Leave a comment

Welcome to March – let’s hope that it’s a drier month than February, or January! I’m still very much in the hearty food and cosy corners vibe, but more than ready to enjoy some blue skies

Read on to get tempted by special dinners, wine festivals, Mother’s Day events and more…

Continue reading Bristol Food & Drink: March 2024 →
Bristol, Monthly Food Listings

Bristol Food & Drink: February 2024

Leave a comment

My first events round-up of 2024, and it’s already a packed one!

It’s the first proper month of the year when we can start venturing out and making fun plans again, so read on for dinners, Valentine’s Day events, new openings and lots more.

Continue reading Bristol Food & Drink: February 2024 →
Bristol, Pub Crawls

20 Underrated Pubs in Bristol

6 Comments

What makes a pub great? And what makes it underappreciated? Of course, both are heavily subjective, which is fine because this is a blog and not a newspaper or the BBC, so I get to be as partisan as I want.

Rather than be a list of ‘hidden gems’, I’ve instead decided to big up some pubs that I think don’t get the attention they derserve.

Continue reading 20 Underrated Pubs in Bristol →
Bristol, Food Guides

Bristol’s Best Date Locations

26 Comments

Finally plucked up the courage to ask the object of your affection out for a drink? Or want to spoil your significant other?

Here are a few suggestions for your next date night, whether it’s a casual coffee, a slap-up dinner or a late night cocktail – all a bit special, not too noisy and with a nice atmosphere to allow you to have the perfect time with your beau. Happy smooching!

Continue reading Bristol’s Best Date Locations →
Food Guides

Bristol’s Best Food & Drink Experiences

10 Comments

Not only is Bristol packed to the gills with amazing restaurants, bars and cafes, but there are also plenty of opportunities to learn from the experts or have a go at making something yourself!

Whether you want to learn how to make sushi or tell a Merlot from a Malbec, here are plenty of tasty experiences across the city…

Continue reading Bristol’s Best Food & Drink Experiences →
Bristol, Monthly Food Listings

Bristol Food & Drink: December 2023

Leave a comment

Hello from a misty and frosty corner of Bristol – it feels like the right time to say that I’m feeling suitably festive and excited by the prospect of lots of cheese, stodge, stouts and mulled beverages over the coming weeks.

There’s plenty going on across the city to get you in the party spirit, take a look below and let me know over on the socials (tweets or Insta) what you’re booking – or take a look at my Bristol Foodie Gift Guide for some present-buying inspiration.

There won’t be a guide in January as I always take that month off, but you can keep up to date with more food news from me on Twitter, Instagram or follow this blog on Facebook – I’ve also added some January events in below if you want to be get some stuff booked for 2024 (or buy as a gift).

Continue reading Bristol Food & Drink: December 2023 →
Bristol, Monthly Food Listings

Bristol Food & Drink: November 2023

Leave a comment

Never mind the wind and rain, we’ve got a jam-packed month of brilliant food and drink events lined up, and they’re almost all indoors!

From a retro ski lodge to wine festivals and a meal themed around the last night of the Titanic (!), there are plenty of weird and wonderful ways to spend your month. Let me know what you get up to!

Continue reading Bristol Food & Drink: November 2023 →
Food Guides

Oldies but goodies: Bristol institutions

11 Comments
emptyplates
Empty plates at Poco (Credit: Alex Poulter)

It’s easy to get caught up with the latest openings and new exciting places (and there is plenty to be excited about at the moment), but I thought it was time to give some appreciation to the places that have kept me fed and watered with consistently brilliant fare since I moved to Bristol sixteen (bloody hell) years ago.

Let me know your favourite places on Twitter or Facebook, and I’ll add them in later!

Continue reading Oldies but goodies: Bristol institutions →
Pub Crawls

Pub Crawl Bristol #2: St Michael’s Hill

11 Comments
bristol_from_st_michaels_hill

I realise that what started as a genuine intention to get people to enjoy the sights and spectacles of Bristol has instead turned in to a series of rather irresponsible pub crawl posts. Oh well, if Bristol does one thing better than most places in the UK it’s provide an amazing variety of drinking establishments, whether your tipple of choice be a fine craft beer, a rich Bordeaux or a cloudy pint of scrumpy.

St Michael’s Hill in the centre is probably the highest concentration of great pubs in this fine town of ours, and therefore perfect for a pubcrawl. I’d advise starting from the top, mind. It’s a wee bit steep, so not the most appealing route if you’ve imbibed a few strong ales.

Continue reading Pub Crawl Bristol #2: St Michael’s Hill →
Bristol, Pub Crawls

Pub Crawl Bristol #4 – Gloucester Road

14 Comments
Gloucester Road, Bristol

There are many things that Bristol can be proud of, but one of the biggest is the overwhelming support for independent local businesses, along with the diversity of choice on offer. Nowhere in the city is this more apparent than on Gloucester Road; still one of the longest stretches in the country consisting mainly of thriving independent shops, bars and restaurants, which obviously makes it ripe for a good ol’ pub crawl.

I’ve started my list from the top end nearer to Horfield (although just beyond is The Inn on the Green, which is a fantastic pub), just because I think it makes sense to end your journey nearer to the centre of town, but the choice is yours! Here are my top tips for boozing in BS6.

Continue reading Pub Crawl Bristol #4 – Gloucester Road →
Bristol, Monthly Food Listings

Bristol Food & Drink: August 2023

Leave a comment

What a false start of a summer huh? All rain and wind – when am I supposed to start enjoying pub gardens and frozen Pina Coladas?

Whatever the weather decides this month. there’s plenty to get excited about, from grand feasts to wine tastings, night markets and brewery trails.

Continue reading Bristol Food & Drink: August 2023 →
Pub Crawls

Pub Crawl Bristol #1: The Harbour

14 Comments
bristol-aerial-photo

Bristol is a great city for so many reasons, but one of the big ones for me is that it’s such a lovely place to go for a scenic amble of a weekend afternoon. There are lots of routes I like to take through the city, but my favourite by far is around the harbour.

The richest part of Bristol’s history starts here – some of the oldest and most beautiful buildings in the city can be found by the water and there is always something exciting going on no matter what the hour or time of year. So the next time you’re stuck for something to do of a weekend, I suggest you gather some friends and go on a cider or ale quest around the water’s edge. I’ve even put together a suggested route, because I’m nice like that.

Continue reading Pub Crawl Bristol #1: The Harbour →